A burst pipe at 11pm. A broken window latch the night before a cold front. A ceiling that's suddenly dripping. These situations don't come with warnings, and the first 30 minutes matter more than most homeowners realize. What you do — or don't do — before help arrives can mean the difference between a $200 repair and a $2,000 insurance claim.
This guide covers the most common home emergencies that St. Louis homeowners face and exactly what to do while you're waiting for a handyman or repair crew to show up.
Before Anything: Know Where Your Shutoffs Are
If you don't already know where your main water shutoff is, go find it before you finish reading this article. In most St. Louis homes, it's one of these locations:
- In the basement, along the front wall facing the street (most common in older homes)
- In a utility closet near the water heater
- Outside near the foundation, covered by a metal or plastic panel at ground level
- In a crawl space, near the main entry point
Also know where your electrical panel is and how to read the breaker labels. In a home emergency, seconds count — and hunting through an unlit basement for a shutoff valve is not a situation you want to be in at 2am.
St. Louis-specific note: Many older homes in South City, Kirkwood, and Clayton have shutoffs that haven't been turned in decades. They can be stiff or stuck. Keep a pipe wrench accessible near your water heater.
Burst or Leaking Pipe
Water damage compounds quickly. A burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons before you notice. Here's the immediate response sequence:
Shut off the water immediately
Turn off the main water supply to the house. If it's a single fixture (toilet, under-sink supply line), you may only need the local shutoff valve directly behind or under that fixture — turn it clockwise until it stops.
Turn off the water heater
If the main water supply is off, shut off your water heater too (gas: turn to pilot; electric: flip the breaker). Running a water heater with no water in it can damage the element or tank.
Open outdoor hose bibs to drain pressure
This relieves pressure in the pipes and reduces residual water flow. Open a few faucets indoors too — cold side only — to drain what's left in the lines.
Document the damage with photos
Before you start cleaning up, photograph everything. Water damage documentation is your best tool when dealing with homeowners insurance. Take wide shots and close-ups.
Start drying immediately
Mold can begin forming in 24–48 hours. Move wet items, run fans, open windows if temperature allows. If the water volume is significant, consider renting a wet/dry vac.
Broken Window (Glass or Latch)
A broken window in a St. Louis winter — or even a mild spring night — is a genuine weather and security problem. If the glass is broken:
- Wear heavy gloves when handling any glass fragments. Don't use bare hands even for small shards.
- Tape heavy plastic sheeting over the interior of the opening using painter's tape or blue tape on the trim. This keeps cold air out while maintaining visibility.
- If the break is large and plastic isn't holding against wind, use a piece of plywood cut to size and secured with screws into the window frame — not the glass.
- Don't tape directly to painted trim if you can avoid it. Blue painter's tape removes without damage; standard masking tape doesn't.
A broken latch or lock on a window is a security issue. If the window can be opened from outside, use a wooden dowel rod cut to fit in the track (for sliding windows) or a window pin lock as a temporary fix until the latch is repaired.
Roof Leak or Ceiling Drip
Ceiling water damage is deceptive — the visible drip point is often not where the water entered. Water travels along rafters and joists before finding a low point to come through. Here's how to manage it:
Catch the water, but relieve bulging drywall
Put a bucket under the drip. But if the ceiling is bulging and sagging, poke a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver — this releases the pooled water in a controlled stream rather than letting the ceiling collapse under the weight.
Identify the source from above if safe
If you have attic access and it's safe to go up, look for where daylight comes through or where roofing felt is wet or damaged. Don't walk on unsupported insulation — stick to joists or bring a board to walk on.
Temporary roof patch from inside or outside
From outside: roofing tape or a heavy tarp secured with boards works for short-term coverage. From inside: waterproof tape over the felt layer slows infiltration. Neither is a real fix — just buys you time until proper repairs can be made.
Power Outage to Part of the House (Not Street-Wide)
If some of your outlets or lights are out but your neighbors still have power, the problem is almost certainly in your panel — not with the utility. Before calling anyone:
- Check the panel for tripped breakers. A tripped breaker sits between ON and OFF — not fully in either direction. Reset it by pushing it fully to OFF first, then back to ON.
- Check for GFCI outlets that tripped. In bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outside — GFCI outlets (the ones with the test/reset buttons) protect circuits downstream. If one tripped, pressing reset on it may restore power to outlets you thought were unrelated.
- If breakers keep tripping after you reset them, stop resetting and call a licensed electrician. A breaker that trips repeatedly is protecting you from an actual electrical fault.
What a handyman can and can't do here: Resetting breakers and replacing GFCI outlets is handyman territory. Diagnosing why a circuit is drawing too much load, replacing breakers, or any panel work requires a licensed electrician.
Getting Emergency Same-Week Service in St. Louis
Most handyman companies in St. Louis schedule 1–2 weeks out during busy seasons. If you need urgent service — a window secured, a pipe assessed, damage documented and temporarily repaired — look for providers that specifically offer same-week booking.
Legendary Services Co offers same-week scheduling for most jobs in the St. Louis area. Book online and describe your situation — we'll prioritize emergencies and confirm with a price range within 2 hours.
For context on what common emergency repairs cost, see our St. Louis handyman pricing guide. And to understand which repairs to prioritize, our guide to home repairs you shouldn't put off covers the jobs that get expensive fast when deferred.
We serve homeowners across St. Louis County, including South City, Kirkwood, Clayton, West County, and St. Charles County. See our Downtown St. Louis service area for more details on coverage.